Denver is situated a mile above most of America’s major pizza cities. But elevation has proved no obstacle for Denver’s pizzaiolos. From Neapolitan to Chicago deep dish to Detroit- and even New Haven-style pizza, here’s a look at 12 places serving up the best pizza in Denver.
Bar Dough
If you’re after traditional, wood-fired pizza in Denver, Bar Dough is hard to beat. Executive chef and partner Max MacKissock spent years in Italy honing his technique. The result is what The Denver Ear calls the best pizza in Denver. This Lower Highlands pizzeria is a mile from AMLI Riverfront Park.
2227 W. 32nd Ave., 720-668-8506
Blue Pan
Detroit-style pizza, distinguished by its crunchy caramelized crust, is this West Highlands operation’s specialty. But Blue Pan also bakes quality Chicago-, New York-, and Italian-style pies. All of Blue Pan’s pies are baked with fresh, hand-made dough.
Original location: 3930 W. 32nd Ave., 720-456-7666
Congress Park: 3509 12th Ave., 720-519-0944
Brava! Pizzeria Della Strada
Brava! is a clear contender for Denver’s best Neapolitan pizza. And even when it gets busy, the wait rarely takes long. Each pie requires only two minutes inside the 800-degree wood-fired oven. Located in Denver’s historic clock tower, Brava! is a two-minute drive or a 10-minute walk from AMLI’s LoHi apartment rentals.
3200 Pecos St., 303-835-1611
Cart-Driver
This RiNo pizza joint makes excellent use of its 640-square-foot space. Cart-Driver doesn’t deliver, but it’s dine-in experience is a special one. You can enjoy fresh oysters and a glass of Prosecco while you wait for your wood-fired pit. Cart-Driver is a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk from AMLI Denargo Market.
2500 Larimer St., Suite 100, 303-292-3553
Fat Sully’s
True to its name, Fat Sully’s dishes up massive slices of NY-style pizza. Take size into account when comparing costs to those at other Denver pizza joints.
Original location: 3237 E. Colfax Ave., 303-377-7900
Tennyson: 4275 Tennyson St., 303-393-1515
Baker pick-up window: 141 S. Broadway, 303-393-1515
Hops & Pie
This popular Berkeley neighborhood joint isn’t just a place for beer and pizza. It’s a place for beer-brewed pizza. Drew and Leah Watson’s handmade dough is made with Modus Hoperandi IPA. If you’re feeling adventurous, try Hops & Pie’s pizza of the month.
3920 Tennyson St., 303-477-7000
Kaos Pizzeria
Kaos Neapolitan pizza is as good as it gets a mile above sea level. And while Kaos delivers its bubbly, cheesy goodness to nearby Denver apartments, its pizza seems to taste better in its 120-year-old Victorian dining room.
1439 Pearl St., 303-733-5267
Lucky Pie Pizza & Taphouse
Over 20 beers on tap and a weekly special pie are only secondary reasons to visit Lucky Pie Pizza & Taphouse. Dough made from organic Colorado flour and San Marzano tomato sauce make Lucky Pie’s Naples-style pies some of the finest in town. Lucky Pie does not deliver, but its two convenient locations are a short drive from AMLI's LoDo apartments.
Louisville: 637 Front St., 303-666-5743
16th Street: 1610 16th St., 303-825-1021
Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria
Formerly known as Racca’s, Marco’s is another contender for Denver’s best Naples-style pie. And as the only Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana-certified pizzeria in the state, Marco’s has the credentials to prove it. Marco’s Englewood location is a five-minute drive from AMLI RidgeGate and a five-minute walk from AMLI Dry Creek.
Englewood: 10111 Inverness Main St., 303-790-9000
Ballpark: 2129 Larimer St., 303-296-7000
Osteria Marco
Not to be confused with the Marco’s above, Osteria Marco’s Larimer Square basement dining room provides a rustic and romantic setting in which to enjoy one of Frank Bonanno’s satisfying wood-fired pizzas. Osteria Marco’s is a mile from AMLI Riverfront Park.
1453 Larimer St., 303-534-5855
Pizzeria Locale Boulder
Pizzeria Locale’s beloved secret sauce is the only real constant amongst the pies baked at its three Mile-High locations. The Boulder location, home to Colorado’s first Stefano Ferrara oven, garners better reviews than Locale’s two Denver locations. This may be in part because of the oven, but the high-end farmers’ market toppings used on the Boulder pies certainly have something to do with it. Pizzeria Locale’s pies are all great, but do try to dine at the Boulder location at least once if you’ve enjoyed a pie from either of its Denver locations.
Boulder: 1730 Pearl St., 303-442-3003
Denver locations: 550 Broadway, 720-508-8828; 3484 W. 32nd Ave., 303-302-2451
White Pie
Jason and Kris Wallenta grew up eating New Haven-style pizza in their native Connecticut. In opening White Pie, they hoped to share and spread their love for the super thin-crusted pizza to residents of the 512. And less than a year after opening their Uptown Denver pizzeria, the brothers behind popular taqueria Dos Santas have definitely succeeded. If you haven’t already, try the New Haven white clam pizza to see what it’s all about. White Pie is a 10-minute walk from AMLI Park Avenue.
1702 Humboldt St., 303-862-5323
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